Nippletop Mountain

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Nippletop Mountain

Nippletop Mountain located in Essex County, New York. With an elevation of 4620 ft., it’s the thirteenth highest peak in New York State. The mountain is part of the Colvin Range. Nippletop is flanked to the northeast by Dial Mountain. To the east, it faces Dix Mountain across Hunters Pass, and to the west it faces Mount Colvin across Elk Pass.

The west side of Nippletop drains into the West Inlet of Elk Lake. The northwest side of Nippletop drains into Gill Brook, and eventually into the East Branch of Ausable River.

The summit view provides gorgeous views of the Great Range High Peaks region, Elk Lake and the Ausable River below. I hiked this on a clear, warm day in early fall and included the Bear Den Trail and Dial Mountain in my trek to the summit.

Nippletop got its name from a 19th century guide named Old Mountain Phelps for its obvious anatomical resemblance to a part of the female body. Over the years it caused a bit of controversy, and as a result has gone through numerous name changes in its early expeditions. The more suitable name “Dial” was applied to this mountain a number of times by the more conservative tourists and writers – the most notable of these being Prof. Emmons.

Old Mountain Phelps stood by his naming and Dial was transferred to a lower peak just to the North.